Its always nice to be back after a long break...just a few hours before India embark on their new cricketing season in Sri Lanka..
Many things transpired in the game during this eventful month and a half long break...
Firstly, Bangladesh were real impatient enough to prove no worth in my words of wisdom about their status in International cricket, but yeah....a win against the Aussies is no mean feat. I sincerely hope that Bangladesh cricket can really kick on from what they left at England. Cardiff certainly has some place in International cricketing history after all....as for individuals, Shahariar Nafees has really impressed me, both with his technique and his attitude towards the game, even though its a long way to reach the galaxy for the southpaw. Mohammad Ashraful...for once lives upto the expectations Ive had from him. A talent clearly possessed. Perhaps the next best thing to come from Asia. The English tour has also raised Mashrafe Mortaza's profile as far as I am personally concerned.
Now, from the minnows to the big-fishes (literally). It has been with great intrigue that I have been watching the English season (Bangladesh matches included) and also read the various musings by the resurgent English media. They have certainly grown in leaps and bounds through the past two seasons, bringing in fight (least expected), executed perfectly by Geraint Jones and Paul Collingwood at Lords (Natwest Series finals). The fright was also seen when they could'nt halt the Aussies in a pre-Ashes rampage. What is significant in all these events is that the Aussies have been clearly forgiven for their rather "Worst week in International Sport (Sydney Morning Herald 15th June 2005)".
The Ashes - To me the first Test at Lords, stands out for two impact moments. Glenn McGrath again proving a thorn in the English flesh and yet again the pre-Ashes hype counting for nothing as Australia romped to a huge 239-run victory. I ask the question - Did England deserve this amount of media attention after all ? With the "popularities" of players like Andrew Flintoff reported to be neck and neck with David Beckham, I feel that the Pom media went a step too far in projecting their "weapons". But, having observed the past, these are utterly normal pre-Ashes gimmicks with the win only for Australia on the field. Coming over to Glenn McGrath, I perhaps read the most fitting tribute ever to the great New South Welshman by fellow Aussie Ian Chappell where he said "McGrath has the discipline of Gandhi, the confidence of Mohammad Ali and the patience of Job." - Guess it just can't get any better than this. Hopefully the paceman can conquer newer numbers in the days and months to come.
Lets get closer to home now. Destination Dambulla (Sri Lanka) - July 30th 2005 - 1st Indian Oil cup ODI between India and Sri Lanka. With so much attention given to Greg Chappell ever since the minute he was appointed Indian coach, his first litmus test begins here. Will he mastermind a rather star-less, inexperienced Indian team to sweeter tastes of success ? We've got to wait and watch. It will certainly be a stern challenge for Chappell and Co to outplay and outthink the Lankans, but it isnt impossible - for there are some talented youngsters on show. Rahul Dravid wearing the captain's hat may just be the ideal dose Indian cricket needed after the Ganguly-saga and perhaps the emergence of a new Dravid-Chappell combine may just sign the future for Indian cricket, I feel. Coming back to tomorrow's duel between India and its southern neighbour, I feel it will be very important for India to put the result across to the Lankans, who are by far a superior ODI side (on current form, ICC rankings and at home). Having tasted early success against the Windies in the Tests, the spirit will be high and of course so will be the confidence. I can easily visualise a rather bouyant Sri Lankan dressing room before this game, even though they cant play the injured left-armers Vaas and Zoysa. Wonder if the promising youngster Pradeep Jayaprakashdaran might realistically get a chance to play. Sri Lanka will in all likelihood go with two debutants - Dilhara Lokuhettige (all-rounder) and Upul Tharanga (opener) and India might just choose to go safe but JP Yadav looks set to make a comeback into International Cricket after 3 years.
It should be an interesting battle, but I somehow feel the scales tilting towards the hosts. With a lethal weapon in Murali, it will not be how Indian batsman play the Lankan bowlers, but how they play Murali's 10 overs that will decide the outcome of the game. I will be posting my post-match review after the match tomorrow.
I have already started working on my first book "Sri Lankan Cricket : The Storyteller" and I am in my initial research phase and hopefully my fascination for the game in the Island can help in a quality output of facts.
Many things transpired in the game during this eventful month and a half long break...
Firstly, Bangladesh were real impatient enough to prove no worth in my words of wisdom about their status in International cricket, but yeah....a win against the Aussies is no mean feat. I sincerely hope that Bangladesh cricket can really kick on from what they left at England. Cardiff certainly has some place in International cricketing history after all....as for individuals, Shahariar Nafees has really impressed me, both with his technique and his attitude towards the game, even though its a long way to reach the galaxy for the southpaw. Mohammad Ashraful...for once lives upto the expectations Ive had from him. A talent clearly possessed. Perhaps the next best thing to come from Asia. The English tour has also raised Mashrafe Mortaza's profile as far as I am personally concerned.
Now, from the minnows to the big-fishes (literally). It has been with great intrigue that I have been watching the English season (Bangladesh matches included) and also read the various musings by the resurgent English media. They have certainly grown in leaps and bounds through the past two seasons, bringing in fight (least expected), executed perfectly by Geraint Jones and Paul Collingwood at Lords (Natwest Series finals). The fright was also seen when they could'nt halt the Aussies in a pre-Ashes rampage. What is significant in all these events is that the Aussies have been clearly forgiven for their rather "Worst week in International Sport (Sydney Morning Herald 15th June 2005)".
The Ashes - To me the first Test at Lords, stands out for two impact moments. Glenn McGrath again proving a thorn in the English flesh and yet again the pre-Ashes hype counting for nothing as Australia romped to a huge 239-run victory. I ask the question - Did England deserve this amount of media attention after all ? With the "popularities" of players like Andrew Flintoff reported to be neck and neck with David Beckham, I feel that the Pom media went a step too far in projecting their "weapons". But, having observed the past, these are utterly normal pre-Ashes gimmicks with the win only for Australia on the field. Coming over to Glenn McGrath, I perhaps read the most fitting tribute ever to the great New South Welshman by fellow Aussie Ian Chappell where he said "McGrath has the discipline of Gandhi, the confidence of Mohammad Ali and the patience of Job." - Guess it just can't get any better than this. Hopefully the paceman can conquer newer numbers in the days and months to come.
Lets get closer to home now. Destination Dambulla (Sri Lanka) - July 30th 2005 - 1st Indian Oil cup ODI between India and Sri Lanka. With so much attention given to Greg Chappell ever since the minute he was appointed Indian coach, his first litmus test begins here. Will he mastermind a rather star-less, inexperienced Indian team to sweeter tastes of success ? We've got to wait and watch. It will certainly be a stern challenge for Chappell and Co to outplay and outthink the Lankans, but it isnt impossible - for there are some talented youngsters on show. Rahul Dravid wearing the captain's hat may just be the ideal dose Indian cricket needed after the Ganguly-saga and perhaps the emergence of a new Dravid-Chappell combine may just sign the future for Indian cricket, I feel. Coming back to tomorrow's duel between India and its southern neighbour, I feel it will be very important for India to put the result across to the Lankans, who are by far a superior ODI side (on current form, ICC rankings and at home). Having tasted early success against the Windies in the Tests, the spirit will be high and of course so will be the confidence. I can easily visualise a rather bouyant Sri Lankan dressing room before this game, even though they cant play the injured left-armers Vaas and Zoysa. Wonder if the promising youngster Pradeep Jayaprakashdaran might realistically get a chance to play. Sri Lanka will in all likelihood go with two debutants - Dilhara Lokuhettige (all-rounder) and Upul Tharanga (opener) and India might just choose to go safe but JP Yadav looks set to make a comeback into International Cricket after 3 years.
It should be an interesting battle, but I somehow feel the scales tilting towards the hosts. With a lethal weapon in Murali, it will not be how Indian batsman play the Lankan bowlers, but how they play Murali's 10 overs that will decide the outcome of the game. I will be posting my post-match review after the match tomorrow.
I have already started working on my first book "Sri Lankan Cricket : The Storyteller" and I am in my initial research phase and hopefully my fascination for the game in the Island can help in a quality output of facts.
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